All the expected changes for the first split round of the 2018 Telstra Premiership season.
Manly Sea Eagles v North Queensland Cowboys, Thursday 7.50pm at Lottoland
Sea Eagles team that lost to Canberra in round 12: 1 Tom Trbojevic, 2 Jorge Taufua, 3 Moses Suli, 4 Brian Kelly, 5 Akuila Uate, 6 Trent Hodkinson, 7 Daly Cherry-Evans (c), 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Lewis Brown, 10 Martin Taupau, 11 Joel Thompson, 12 Shaun Lane, 13 Jake Trbojevic
Interchange: 14 Matthew Wright, 15 Frank Winterstein, 16 Lloyd Perrett, 17 Toafofoa Sipley
Hooker Apisai Koroisau will return from suspension this week for a Manly side that is set to lose Tom and Jake Trbojevic to NSW Origin duty. Tom Wright and Jack Gosiewski could join the squad as Trent Barrett reshuffles his side to replace the Trbojevic brothers, while Jono Wright could also return from a broken thumb this week.
Cowboys team that lost to Melbourne in round 12: 1 Michael Morgan, 2 Kyle Feldt, 3 Justin O'Neill, 4 Ben Hampton, 5 Antonio Winterstein, 6 Te Maire Martin, 7 Johnathan Thurston (c), 8 Matthew Scott (c), 9 Jake Granville, 10 Scott Bolton, 11 Gavin Cooper, 12 Coen Hess, 13 Jason Taumalolo
Interchange: 14 Enari Tuala, 15 Shaun Fensom, 16 Corey Jensen, 17 Francis Molo
Matthew Scott is facing a one-week suspension and the Cowboys will lose Michael Morgan, Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper to Queensland Origin duty, but they will have the rare advantage of having Johnathan Thurston available in a pre-Origin round. Lachlan Coote is likely to return at fullback while Ethan Lowe and Sam Hoare could replace Hess and Cooper in the forward rotation. Kane Linnett is also due back soon from a pectoral injury.
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Cronulla Sharks, 7.55pm Friday at ANZ Stadium
Rabbitohs team that beat the Warriors in round 12: 1 Greg Inglis (c), 2 Campbell Graham, 3 Adam Doueihi, 4 Dane Gagai, 19 Robert Jennings, 6 Cody Walker, 7 Adam Reynolds, 8 Thomas Burgess, 9 Damien Cook, 10 George Burgess, 11 John Sutton, 12 Angus Crichton, 13 Sam Burgess
Interchange: 5 Hymel Hunt, 14 Cameron Murray, 16 Jason Clark, 17 Tevita Tatola
Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai, Damien Cook and Angus Crichton are set to be missing on Origin duty, with Inglis captaining Queensland, Gagai retaining his spot on the wing for the Maroons and Cook and Crichton expected to be named for NSW on Monday night. Alex Johnston (hamstring), Richie Kennar (ankle), Zane Musgrove (ankle) and Tyrell Fuimaono (dislocated toe) could all return from injury, while Robbie Farah is set to start at hooker and Braidon Burns, Kyle Turner and Mark Nicholls will be in contention to make the 17.
Sharks team that beat the Knights in round 12: 1 Josh Dugan, 2 Edrick Lee, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Ricky Leutele, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Matt Moylan, 7 Chad Townsend, 16 Ava Seumanufagai, 9 Jayden Brailey, 10 Matt Prior, 11 Luke Lewis, 12 Wade Graham, 13 Paul Gallen (c)
Interchange: 14 Joseph Paulo, 15 James Segeyaro, 17 Jayson Bukuya, 18 Kurt Capewell
Andrew Fifita will return after being a late withdrawal with bone bruising in his knee on Sunday with Valentine Holmes set to be Cronulla's sole Origin representative next week. Sosaia Feki is the man most likely to replace Holmes, while Kurt Capewell could drop out of the 17 and Avan Seumanufagai out of the starting side to make way for Fifita.
Parramatta Eels v Newcastle Knights, 7.35pm Saturday at ANZ Stadium
Eels team that lost to Brisbane in round 12: 1 Corey Norman, 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 George Jennings, 6 Clint Gutherson (c), 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Cameron King, 10 Siosaia Vave, 11 Manu Ma'u, 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Peni Terepo
Interchange: 14 Will Smith, 15 Suaia Matagi, 16 David Gower, 17 Marata Niukore
The Eels are untroubled by Origin and are likely to stick with Corey Norman at fullback Clint Gutherson in the halves. Nathan Brown could make his long-awaited return from an ankle injury while Jarryd Hayne could also be available after being sidelined with a hip flexor injury. Kane Evans, Josh Hoffman, Raymond Stone and Jaeman Salmon were in the 21-man squad named last Tuesday and could again be in contention.
Knights team that lost to Cronulla in round 12: 1 Kalyn Ponga, 2 Ken Sio, 3 Sione Mata'utia, 4 Nathan Ross, 5 Shaun Kenny-Dowall, 6 Connor Watson, 7 Jack Cogger, 8 Herman Ese'ese, 9 Slade Griffin, 10 Daniel Saifiti, 11 Lachlan Fitzgibbon, 12 Mitchell Barnett, 13 Aidan Guerra (c)
Interchange: 14 Danny Levi, 15 Chris Heighington, 16 Jamie Buhrer (c), 18 Jacob Lillyman
Coach Nathan Brown could ring the changes following a poor performance at home against Cronulla but there are no likely changes on the injury front and no Origin reps to replace. Josh King, Cory Denniss, Luke Yates and Brent Naden were the men cut from the 21-man squad last week.
Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers, Sunday 4pm at Allianz Stadium
Roosters team that beat the Titans in round 12: 1 James Tedesco, 2 Joseph Manu, 3 Latrell Mitchell, 4 Mitchell Aubusson, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Luke Keary, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Siosiua Taukeiaho, 9 Jake Friend (c), 10 Dylan Napa, 11 Boyd Cordner (c), 13 Isaac Liu, 14 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Interchange: 15 Zane Tetevano, 16 Kurt Baptiste, 17 Victor Radley, 18 Nat Butcher
Ryan Matterson is set to return to the side after being a late withdrawal on Saturday while James Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Dylan Napa and Boyd Cordner are set to be out due to Origin. Eloni Vunakece, Sitili Tupouniua and Mitch Cornish were included on the extended bench last week and could come into the side while Daniel Tupou is closing in on a return from a pectoral injury.
Wests Tigers team that beat Canterbury in round 12: 1 Tuimoala Lolohea, 2 David Nofoaluma, 3 Esan Marsters, 4 Mahe Fonua, 5 Corey Thompson, 6 Benji Marshall, 7 Luke Brooks, 8 Russell Packer, 9 Jacob Liddle, 10 Ben Matulino, 11 Chris Lawrence (c), 12 Michael Chee-Kam, 13 Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 14 Alex Twal, 15 Josh Reynolds, 16 Matthew Eisenhuth, 18 Josh Aloiai
The Wests Tigers look injury-free and are unlikely to make significant changes this week despite struggling to get past the out-of-form Bulldogs on Sunday. Malakai Watene-Zelezniak, Sauaso Sue, Chris McQueen, Tim Grant and Kevin Naiqama are the names most likely to be included in the 21 if coach Ivan Cleary opts for a reshuffle.
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